Dry-spot cross-arm terminal box



Aug, 21, 1928.

, D, P. DlcKlE DRY SPOT CROSS ARM TERMINAL BOX Filed Nov. 14, 19'25 16 l l I Hija] 6 vla I ZE Il? f? l@ W .llllhlllllll Il IHM` L, I mum, uw 'l 4 I i i i www Patented Aug. 21, 192,8.

UNiTED sTArss earner verrier...

nouGLAs P. Dioxin, 0E NEW Yoan, N. Y.. AssreyNoE rro THE WESTERN UNION 'TELE-l GRAPH COMPANY, OF NEX/V YORK, N. Y., A COREQEATIN` OF NEW YORK.

DRY-SPOT CROSS-ARM TERMINAL Application filed November 14, 1925. Serial N'o. 69,095.

riChis invention relates to a method of preventing leakage of current from telegraph and telephone lines at a terminal or branch station.

In the construction ofopen lines for the transmission of electrical signals, it is a coinmonrpractice to connect the bare line conductors7 which terminate at a station and are dead ended on the insulators of the last cross-arm, by means of depending conductors, termed bridle wires which are led into the station oilice or to a cable pass-V ing down along the pole. During damp and wet weather the surfaces of the pole and r the bridle wires become wet and form' a leakage path between the line wires and the ground in spite of the fact that the'bare line wires are supported upon insulators and the bridle wires are covered with rubber insulation. To prevent this ithas been proposed to prevent access of moisture. to a continuous ring about the circumference of each bridle wire by embedding a short portion of t-he wire in the body of an insulator,

' the insulator being usually suspended from the line wire by the bridle Wire. Dry spot insulators of this type are quite expensive and, if the bridle wire is to be an unbroken continuous insulated wirc,` it must be molded within the insulator. y

The object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive device which may be easily secured to the cross-arm which will maintain an extended dry surface on a Aplurality of bridle wires, protecting them from rain, snow and moisture and which will support the wires in spaced relation at'the same time permittingready access for inspection or for the purpose of changing the bridle wires from one line wire to another. The protected part of the bridle wire becomes in effect, a dry spot or length in the superiicial surface of the wire which efectually prevents any lealrage between wires and ground.

In the following detailed description, I shall refer to the accompanying drawings in whichz- Y Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of a cross-arm showing the manner of leading the bridle wires from the bare line wires to my bridle-wire dry spot terminal box;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the box with the lid or side cover removed;

FigureB is a vertical sectional view of the same; and

- Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View on the line 1l*-t of Figure 3.

he case or box l Jrorniing the' housing or protective enclosure may be rectangular Yor any other suitable shape and is preferably constructed ofstamped or cast metal. The front edge of the top wall l projects beyond the box to overhang the cover or lid 2. The side walls depend below the floor 3 toprovide a protected outer recess for thewires as they emerge from the box. The cover is fastened in any suitable manner to make a tight iit against the frontV edges of the walls and may be provided with an aperture to fit over the bolt 6 and be secured by a nut 7.

The bridle WI re dry spot box is bolted or otherwise secured to the cross-arm 10 and so positioned that the runs of the bridle wires 5 leading from the line wires on the insulators l2 shall be as short as possible. The bridle wires must not touch any other wire or object between the line wire and the box. EachY bridle wire is led into theA box through a porcelain insulating bushing 'ld which'passes vthrough the bottom of the box, and is bont over the bridle wire insulating support l5, passing downwardly and out throughthe common opening 1G in the floor of the box. rlihe insulator l5 is preferably made porcelain vor glass, supported upon a bolt 6 and is provided with grooves to receive the bridle wires and maintain them in spaced relation.

Inasmuch as the wires enter and leave the box through the iioor, practically no moisture will follow or creep along the wires into y tically all conditions. yThe use of a single,I

multi-groove insulatorprovides a simple and economical construction and one which is also fool-proof. By leading all of the wires to a single central exit opening it is possible to splice all of the wires to a cable within the box if this is desirable. On the other hand, if the bridle wires are to be carried to the station or office, each bridle Wire may be a single length extending from the line Wire to the office Without a break.

I claim:

l. l*Means for preventing leakage of current from overheadv terminal Wires` carried by the insulators on telegraph ortelephone poles7 comprising a housing completely closed to prevent the entrance of moisture and provided With means whereby itV may be secured to a telegraph pole Closely adjacent to the insulators, a plurality of openings in the floor or bottom Wall of the housing, an insulating vsupport mounted Within said housing4 and provided with spacing means, and u. plurality of continuous bridle Wires adapted to be connected to overhead Wires, said bridle Wires passing in at separate openings in the bottoni Wall, over said support and out through another opening in the bottom Wall, whereby they will be held in spaced relation and free from moisture Within the housing.

2. In an organization as set forth in elaiin l, saidV support comprising a inulti-grooved insulator.

3.`In an organization as set forth in elaiin l, said openings being provided With insulating bushings.

4. In an organization as set forth in claim l, the side Walls vof the housing depending below the ioor to provide protection for the Wires as they emerge from the housing.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

DOUGLAS P. DICK-IE. 

